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40

Campbell-Stone
Carisse Mickey Berryhill, Abilene Christian University, Secretary

MEMBERS PRESENT

• Carisse Berryhill, Abilene Christian University
• Sheila Owen, Harding School of Theology
• Jessica Holland, Harding School of Theology
• David Kiger, Emmanuel Christian Seminary
• Robin Hartman, Bushnell University
• Chris Rosser, Oklahoma Christian University
• Leslie Starasta, Lincoln Christian University
• Lucy Perrin, Pepperdine University

ROUND ROBIN REPORTS

Oklahoma Christian University – New president and provost. 
Former library director Lee Anne Paris is now at Oklahoma Cen-
tral University. J. J. Compton, cataloger and archivist, is serving as 
interim director. Enrollment is sagging. Meanwhile, the library is 
pursuing “gameful design” in library instruction.

Emmanuel Christian Seminary – Former director Gary Daught is 
retiring as director of libraries. David Kiger will succeed him on 
August 1. Current President Greer to retire next year. The library is 
adding a Student Success Librarian position. The Seminary is add-
ing a hybrid MDiv, as well as DMin.

Lincoln Christian University – Budgetary concerns have pro-
duced administrative changes and a reduction in student workers 
at the library, which now has one librarian, Leslie Starasta. Former 
director Nancy Olson is working with TCM International. The Eury 
Library’s hymn site will be migrating to a new web format, pos-
sibly with Illinois, which originally funded the project through an 
IMLS grant.

Harding School of Theology – Enrollment is up significantly. Sum-
mer courses were up 63% over a year ago. DMin Director Steve 
Cloer has inaugurated a cohort model in the DMin program and 



Denominational Group Reports  41

has added a course called Introduction to DMin Research, which 
library director Jessica Holland co-teaches. Cataloger Sheila Owen 
reports that about 60% of their Overdrive ebooks are cataloged in 
WorldCat.

Pepperdine University – Lucy Perrin, Director and Archivist for 
the Rushford Center and the Churches of Christ Heritage Collec-
tion, participated at the June Christian Scholars Conference on a 
panel concerned with the preservation of church records in an era 
when many churches are closing. Also, on the panel moderated 
by James Wiser were former Lipscomb University archivist Eliza-
beth Rivera, now University Archivist at Baylor, Carisse Berryhill, 
and Scott Lambert from Heritage 21. Where Lucy has been carry-
ing liaison duties in religion and philosophy, Kristin Peace will be 
coming alongside Lucy to help with liaison duties. Pepperdine is 
emphasizing digital curation and discovery. The library is selecting 
items for conservation from a gift of 1000 rare books. The library 
has an open position for University Archivist.

Bushnell University – After 28 years at Hope International Uni-
versity, Robin Hartman has moved to Bushnell University in Eu-
gene, Oregon. Bushnell, formerly Northwestern Christian College, 
is historically related to the Disciples of Christ and the indepen-
dent Christian Churches. After beginning as Student Success Li-
brarian, Robin is moving into the Director role at Bushnell and get-
ting acquainted with faculty leaders in MFT, Education, and Bible. 
Meanwhile, HIU has two librarians, including Steve Jung, who also 
teaches graduate-level courses in biblical studies.

Abilene Christian University – Brown Library is in its third year 
with James Wiser as Dean. Carisse works half-time remotely as his 
Special Assistant for Strategic Initiatives. Craig Churchill continues 
as theological librarian. Mac Ice continues as the director of Spe-
cial Collections, including the Center for Restoration Studies col-
lection, with archivist Amanda Dietz and librarian Erica Pye. The 
library acquired the Landon Saunders papers and recordings, and 
honored Saunders this spring as the 2023 Friend of the Library. In 
2023 Special Collections put a newly acquired first-edition copy of 
Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address (1807) on permanent 
display in its own custom case. Former CRS student worker Dr. Joel 
Brown is the new President of the Disciples of Christ Historical So-
ciety.



42    ANNUAL Y E ARBOOK

OTHER

The participants expressed our eagerness to collaborate on digital 
collections that reveal unique material held in our libraries from 
our common heritage, possibly by expanding the Stone Campbell 
Teaching Archive hosted by ACU, or by other means. Furthermore, 
we wish to strengthen a sense of networking among ourselves and 
our colleagues in related institutions. David Kiger offered to host a 
monthly Zoom discussion to encourage networking and collabora-
tion.


